Jakarta Cathedral (Indonesian: Gereja Katedral Jakarta) is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Jakarta, Indonesia, which is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jakarta, currently Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo. Its official name is Gereja Santa Maria Pelindung Diangkat Ke Surga (from Dutch, De Kerk van Onze Lieve Vrouwe ten Hemelopneming, in English: The Church of our Lady of Assumption). This current cathedral was consecrated in 1901 and built in the neo-gothic style, a common architectural style to build churches at that time. The Jakarta Cathedral is located in Central Jakarta near Merdeka Square and Merdeka Palace, it is stood right in the front of Istiqlal Mosque.
The literal translation of the church is "Saint Mary Assumed to Heaven" or for short "St. MATH".
ArchitectureThe more than 100 years old Jakarta Cathedral is known to be one of the most graceful and elegant historical building in Jakarta. The plan of the cathedral took form of a cross with length 60 metres, and 10 meters wide, plus 5 metres on each aisle. The church is called Cathedral because it contains "cathedra", the throne of bishop. The main entrance of the building is facing west, in the center of the main portal stood a statue of Our Lady Mary, on top of the portal there is a sentence written in Latin: "Beatam Me Dicentes Omnes Generationes" which means "All generations called me in blessing". On top of the portal there is a large round stained glass Rozeta Rosa Mystica, the symbol of Mother Mary.
There is three main spires of Jakarta Cathedral, two tallest ones measured 60 metres tall and located in the front side on each side of the portals. The north tower is called "The Fort of David" featured in fortress styled architecture symbolize Mary as the refuge and protector against the power of darkness. The south tower also 60 metres tall is called "The Ivory Tower", the white and pure ivory is describes the pureness of Virgin Mary. On Ivory tower there is old clocks that still well functioned and also church bell. The third spire is located on top of cross intersection roof measured 45 metres tall from the ground called "The Angelus Dei Tower".
The building consist of two floors, the upper floor can be reach from a flight of stairs in northern tower. Originally the second floor was used to be the place for the choir during masses, but since the cathedral is quite old, there is concern that the building can not support the weight of too many people upstairs. Today the upper floor is functioned as the Jakarta Cathedral Museum, housing the relicts of catholic rituals such as the silver cups, hats and robes of Dutch East Indies and Indonesian Archbishops and Cardinals. The museum also display the history of Roman Catholicism in Indonesia.
On southern side there is a statue of Pieta, describing the sadness of Mother Mary holding the body of Jesus Christ after crucifixion. The wall surrounded the interior have several scene depicting the live of Jesus from birth to crucifixion. The Cathedral have four pulpits for confession services, two of each sides. On the center there is a high raised wooden podium with shell-shaped roof for sound reflector. The podium was installed in 1905 and displaying the images of hell on lower side, the images of Jesus sermons and other scenes on the middle side. The top of the podium displaying the scene of heaven adorned with winged angels. On southern side there is a large neo-gothic style orgel made by Verschueren, Belgium, moved and installed in Jakarta in 1988. This orgel was took from Amby village near Maastricht.
There is three altars in this Cathedral, on the left side is "The Altar of Saint Mary", to celebrate the ascend of Mary to heaven. The altar was made in 1915 by Atelier Ramakers. On the left side is "The Altar of Saint Joseph", completed in May 1922. The throne of bishop called "Cathedra" is located on left side with three thrones. The main altar located in the center and made in 19th century in The Netherlands. The altar was moved from Jesuit Church in Groningen in 1956. In this altar there is the main cross of Jesus and tabernacle.
The body of the building was made of thick red bricks covered with plaster and applied with pattern to mimic natural stone construction. The large wall was made to support wide spanned teak beams roof construction. The top of the spires was made from iron frame, while the roofs was made of teak wood construction. Actually iron and wood is not suitable for typical neo-gothic architecture materials which usually employs stone masonry. However these materials were chosen because it is relatively lighter than stone masonry, considering Indonesia is the region that prone to earthquakes.
History
The cathedral ca. 1870–1900After the arrival of VOC in 1619, catholic church was banned in the East Indies and only survived in Flores and Timor islands. The Netherlands was known to support Protestanism and tried to limit the influence and authority of Papal Vatican. During Napoleonic War The Netherlands was fell under French Empire, including its possession, the colony of Dutch East Indies. In 1806 Napoleon Bonaparte installed his catholic younger brother Lodewijk (Louis Napoleon) as the king of The Netherlands. Since then the catholic church are free to operate in East Indies.
The Commissary General of Batavia 1825-1830 Du Bus de Gisignies was credited to provides land to build the first catholic church in Batavia. The former residence of General de Kock in Weltevredeen area was renovated to be a church. Monseigneur Prinsen blessed and inaugurate the church in 6 November 1829 and named "Saint Mary Ascend to Heaven". In 1859 the church was undergone renovation, however in 9 April 1890 the church was collapsed.
The present church is the one rebuilt around 1891 to 1901. Pastor Antonius Dijkmans, SJ was appointed as the architect. The construction was halted because the lack of funding. The church new bishop Mgr E. S. Luypen, SJ, raised the fund in The Netherlands and the architect MJ Hulswit continued the construction in 1899. "De Kerk van Onze Lieve Vrowe ten Hemelopneming - The Church of Saint Mary Ascend to Heaven" was blessed and inaugurated by Mgr Edmundus Sybrandus Luypen, SJ in 21 April 1901. In 1988 and 2002 the church was undergone renovations, today The Jakarta Cathedral is one of the most beautiful historical buildings in Jakarta.
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